New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Dianna Russini were shown kissing at a New York City bar in unearthed photos captured six years ago shared by Page Six on Thursday (April 23).

The photos show Vrabel and Russini in the dimly lit Tibeca Tavern in the early hours of March 11, 2020, sitting close to each other at the bar and appearing to share a kiss.

“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness told Page Six. “He had a ring on.”

The photos were taken when Vrabel was already married to his wife, Jennifer, and six months after Russini married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt. Both Vrabel and Rusinni have two kids each with their respective spouses.

The photos were shared hours after Vrabel announced he will be away from his team for the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft to seek counseling.

"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said Wednesday night via ESPN's Mike Reiss. "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.

"I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result."

Vrabel spoke publicly on Tuesday (April 21) for the first time since being spotted in photos showing him on vacation with Russini earlier this month.

"I've had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. Those have been positive and productive," Vrabel said during his press conference at Gillette Stadium via CBS News. "We believe that in order to be successful on and off the field you have to make good decisions. That includes me, that starts we me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction."

Vrabel never specifically mentioned Russini by name but apologized for not addressing the situation prior to voluntary organized team activities beginning this week.

"Those are comments and questions that I've answered for the team and with the team and we'll keep those private and to ourselves. I care deeply about this football team and I'm excited to coach them," Vrabel said. "I also know that I'm going to attack each day with humility and focus. And what I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody, our fans most importantly will get the best version of me going forward. And that's what I know. I'm excited to do that, but I wanted to just address this and thank you for dealing with a private and personal matter."

Russini announced she submitted her letter of resignation to the Athletic effective immediately on April 14.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini wrote. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.

“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, were seen in viral photos shared by Page Six showing them together at a luxury hotel pool sparking speculation of a potential affair, while past numerous clips of her giving questionable comments on her marriage were unearthed since. The coach and the reporter both issued statements to Page Six downplaying the photos, with Vrabel calling them "completely innocent" and Russini claiming they were in a "group of six people who were hanging out during the day."

Vrabel and Russini, both of whom are married with children, were seen at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, a resort set along the Brins Mesa mountain range, in photos taken two weekends ago, which were shared by Page Six on Tuesday. A spy for Page Six told the outlet that the two had breakfast on the patio of the hotel's restaurant at around 10:30 a.m. on March 28 prior to the photos at the pool and side-by-side in a hot tub about an hour later.

The spy said Vrabel and Russini were again seen on the private rooftop only accessible from two-person bungalows that cost $2,160 per night. The photos show the two hugging during a sunset, as well as interlocking fingers as they stood face-to-face, with the spy claiming they were briefly dancing together.

Russini had previously covered the Tennessee Titans for ESPN during Vrabel's head coaching tenure with the franchise.

“They went from being [a team] nobody thought about to Mike got them playing really well,” Russini said of the 2018 Titans on the Patriots Unfiltered podcast in February. “And then, of course, they went to the AFC championship game” in 2020.

Russini had previously faced controversy when then-Washington Commanders general manager Scot McCloughan's wife accused them of having an affair, claiming Russini, then working as the team's beat writer, was her husband's "new side chick" when she broke a story of Kirk Cousins replacing Robert Griffin III as the starting quarterback before later issuing an apology.

“I deeply apologize for the disparaging remarks about an ESPN reporter on my personal Twitter account. The comment was unfounded and inappropriate, and I have the utmost respect for both the reporter and ESPN,” Jessica McCloughan wrote at the time in reference to Russini. “I regret that my actions have brought undeserved negative attention to the Redskins organization and its leadership. My comments in no way reflect the opinions or attitudes of the organization and I regret that my behavior has in any way negatively impacted the team and its loyal fan base.”

Vrabel led the Patriots, his former team for the majority of his NFL playing career as a linebacker, to an AFC championship in his first season as head coach in 2025, and has a 68-48 overall record combined with his six-year tenure with the Titans.

Big Sue